Time Schedule:
Michael L. Goldberg
BIS 349
Bothell Campus
Introduces the field of personality psychology and the scientific study of psychological individuality. Addresses three key approaches to personality; basic traits; motives, goals, schemas, and tasks; and broad and culturally shaped life stories that provide identity, purpose, and meaning. Integrates classical personality theories and contemporary research in the field. Not open for credit to students who have taken PSYCH 203 or PSYCH 303 at the Seattle Campus.
Class description
This course aims to take Hollywood cinema seriously as an institution of cultural importance. We will examine the way it operates to support mainstream ideologies and render it as "natural" and "common sense" while also offering the possibility of subverting these dominant ideologies. The course focuses on genre films and on genre criticism, specifically on Hollywood films from the 30�s to the 90�s. This quarter, we will focus on the ROMANTIC COMEDY GENRE. Students will become familiar with the foundational methodology of formalist film analysis as well as theoretical approaches to cinema. Although this is not a course in film history, I will provide you with background on both the films and the historical context in order to better understand the films.
We will spend the first part of the course mastering the analytical tools and language necessary to do formalist film analysis. In the second half of the course, we turn to the theoretical concepts needed to examine ideological subtext within a cultural context. We will be looking specifically at genre development, historical context, the role of the director and stars in creating "authorship" of a film text, and the reception of culturally-specific audiences.
Films may include: Pretty Woman/ The Lady Eve/ Working Girl/ His Girl Friday/ It Happened One Night/ Some Like It Hot/ Bridget Jones' Diary/ The Wedding Banquet
Student learning goals
Memorize and comprehend the key terms and concepts in formalist film analysis.
Apply these terms to formalist film analysis, including the identification of the functions and effects of cinematic elements within a scene in an untimed and timed exam setting. The first approach assesses your ability to a �close analysis� of a scene; the second approach assesses your ability to do film analysis "on the fly" (that is, similar to a �real world� setting of the movie theater, etc.).
Effectively interpret a scene within the context of the entire film using formalist analysis and key theoretical concepts in an interpretive argumentative essay format.
Effectively interpret a scene within the context of a film combining formalist film analysis and insights from readings on ideological interpretation in a timed exam setting.
Demonstrate a critical awareness of the conventions used in the romantic comedy genre and their ideological meaning.
Demonstrate a critical awareness of the process by which Hollywood cinema supports and/or undermines mainstream ideology.
General method of instruction
Lecture, discussion and workshops with film clips.
Recommended preparation
None.
Class assignments and grading
Midterm, final, essays.
Carefully.
